Knockdown box.



B. L. BEHRENDT.

KNOCKDOWN BOX.

APPLICATION FILED 00w. 14, 1910.

1976,8640 Patented Oct. 28, 1913.

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, cessible nails, screws, bolts, locks or other lt ll ltlllll.

BABNIMI IBEHRENDT, -01? NEWARK, NIWV JERSEY.

KINOGKDOWN BOX.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BARNIM L.BEI-I1U INDT, asubject ot the Emperor of Germany, residing at Newark, in the county OfESSBX and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Knockdown Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention has reference, gen orally, to improvements in collapsible packing boxes, cases or the like; and the present invention relates, more particularly, to a novel construction of packing box or case which is strong and durable when arranged to contain merchandise or the like, and which can be easily and quickly taken apart and collapsed into a comparatively small space for storage purposes, or for return to the shipper.

The present invention has for its principal object, therefore, to provide a novel construction of collapsible box or case which can be made in all desirable sizes, and which when not in use can be collapsed or taken apart, and which can furthermore be used over and over again for shipping purposes.

it further object of the present invention is to provide a means for quickly and easily sealing:' and locking; the novel construction of packing box or case without the use of lock or key when the same is ready to be shipped; said means, however, being of a character that the same may be quickly and easily imini'pulated to open said packing box or case to get at its contents, andto knock the same down to its collapsed arrangement.

A s ill further object of'the present invention is to provide in connection with said looking or sealing means, a means whereby it can immediately be detected whether or not the same has been tampered with or manipulated during transit.

A still furthcrobject ofmypresent invention is to provide such a construction of collapsible packing box or case that the same when set up presents no visible or acfastening means which can be removed to Specification of L tters Patent.

Applicationfilcd October 14, 1.910.

Patented ct. 28, 1913. Serial No. 586,976.

permit the opening of said box or case surreptitiously.

Other objects of the present invention not at this time more particularly enumerated ill be clearly evident from the following detailed description of tllGSEllDE.

With the various objects ot' my present invention in view, the same consists, in the novel construction of collapsible packing-. box or case hereinafter more particularly set forth; and, furthermore, the said invention consists, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the various parts as well as in the details of the construction thereof, all of which will be fully described in the following specification and then finally cmbodicd in the clauses Oil the claim which are appended to and which form an essential part of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is top or plan view o'ftlie novel construction of packing box or case embodying the principles of my present invention. the some being shown in its locked or sealed condition ready :tor shipment. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating however further parts of a locking or sealing means which have been uncovered. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a protective seal arranged with said locking and sealing means; and Fig. 4 is a similar View with said protective seal removed revealing the means for manipulattinr; said locking or sealing means of said box or .386. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. l showing the locking or sealing means in its unlocked position. l 6 is a lO11Qli'.H- dinal vertical section of said novel collapsible packing box or case in its set-up condition; Fin. 7 is a crosssection of the same taken on line 7-7 in said l igr. ll looking in the direction of the arrow or. S is-an enlarged detail longitudinal vertical section of said novel locking and sealing: means in its locking position 01 relation.

Elimilar characters of reference are eniploved in all oi the hereinabove described views to indicate correspondinn parts.

Referring; now to the said drawings, the reference-character 1 indicates a complete collapsible packing box or case embodying the principles of my present invention, the same comprising a pair of side-members, 2 and 3 respectively, saidv side-members being preferably constructed of sheet metal, and

each being provided with a marginal or annular flange, 4 and 5 respectively, extending at right angles from their main body-portions. Arranged in connection with said side-members 2 and 3, in the manner shown, is a bottom-member 6, the same being preferably formed of wood, although other suitable material may be used if desired. Said bottom'member 6 is maintained in its proper relation with said side-members 2 and 3 by means of the end-members 7 and 8 re spectively, which are caused to engage the end marginal edges of said bottom-member 6 when said end-members 7 and 8 are brought in proper engagement with their vertical marginal edges inclosed by the vertical portions of said marginal or annular flanges 4 and 5 of said side-members 2 and 3. Said end-members 7 and 8 are secure in their above described relation with said side-members and said bottom-member by means of bolts 9 which pass through said marginal or annular flanges and said endmembers, the round-head 10 of said bolts 9 being alone exposed upon the outside of the box or case thus formed, while the securing nuts 11 which are arranged with said bolts 9 are arranged upon the inside of said box or case, and are thus inaccessible and hence are shielded from any surreptitious tampering or manipulation when said box or case is closed. The means for closing said box or case thus constructed comprises a pair of plain cover-sections which are flank cover-sections 12 and 13 respectively, which are respectively slipped between the upper longitudinal. portion of said marginal or annular flanges a and 5 of said side-members 2 and 3 and the upper edges or ends of said end-members 7 and 8. hen said flank cover-sections 12 and 13 are arranged in this position there is inserted between them a key-section let, the same being provided with stud-pins 15 at each end thereof, said stud-pins 15 being adapted to be received in suitable receivingsockets or openings 16 arranged in the upper horizontal edge or end of each of said end-members 7 and 8. Arranged in connection with said key-section 141 is a means for locking and sealing said collapsible packing box or case constructed and arranged as above de-' scribed. This said locking and sealing means comprises a receiving socket 17 located in the upper surface of said key-section 1st. Rotatably arranged in one end of said receiving socket 17 is a slotted-head 18 of a shank 19 which penetrates to the inner or under side of said key-section 14c. Secured upon the inner protruding end of said shank 19 is a lockingbar 20. Upon turning said slotted-head 18 said locking bar may be turned to carry the same into looking or unlocking relation with said cover-sections 12 and 13. Said locking relation of the said lockingbar 20 is shown in Fig. 1 of said drawings, whereas its unlocking relation is shown in Fig. 5 of said drawings. As a means for preventing any accidental turning of said head 18, shank 19 and locking bar 20, the said head 18 is further provided with an auxiliary or secondary locking screw 21 which passes through the flange of said head 18 and into the body of said key-section 14, thus preventing any accidental displacement of said locking-bar from its locking relation, and furthermore making necessary the removal of said secondary locking screw 21 before said slotted-head 18 could be manipulated. To provide a means whereby any tampering with said secondary locking screw 21 and said slotted-head 18 to manipulate said locking bar 20 may be detected, a seal 22 is provided which may be cemented or otherwise fastened upon the said slottedhead 18 covering both its slot and the head of said secondary locking screw 21. Said seal 22 may be made of paper or other suitable or desirable material, and so treated chemically that any attempt to remove the same by soaking with water or acid would simply result in a discoloration or burning of said seal which would quickly disclose the attempt. Said seals 22 may be provided with any desired identifying printed matter or mark to indicate their origin etc. When said seal 22 is in position, the same may be protected against accidental injury by means of a slidable protector-plate 23 which is slidably arranged in said receiving-socket 17 and retained in such sliding-relation by means of the guide-pins 24c properly distributed in the walls of said receiving-socket 17. Said protector-plate 23 is preferably made of metal and is adapted to cover and protect said locking and sealing-means above described. When all parts of said locking and sealing means are arranged in their operative relation one with the other, the whole are finally protected by pouring into said receiving-socket 17 a covering of plastic material 25, such as plaster of Paris or the like, this is allowed to set and when hard provides a more complete protection.

It will thus be clearly evident that my presentinvention provides a novel and highly eflicient construction of packing box or case which may be so sealed and locked in its shipping condition that any surreptitious tampering therewith may be detected at the moment of its delivery, and responsibility for any loss fixed. In addition to this advantage my novel form of packing box or case is easily collapsible and may be taken apart and put together again innumerable times, thus providing a very economical box or case for shipping purposes. To take the box or case apart, the box or case is first opened by properly manipulating said lockring-bar 20 to release the same from its locking position. This being accomplished, said key-section 14 may be removed, and then said flank cover-sections 12 and 13 may be slid toward each other to remove the same from engagement with the flanges of said side-members 2 and 3. This accomplished access is now gained to the interior of said case or box, and after the contents thereof are removed, the said nuts 11 may be removed from said bolts 9 thus permitting said end members 7 and 8 to be removed and the said side-mel'nbers 2 and 3 and said bottom-member 6 to be separated. The parts thus separated may be arranged together in a compact and comparatively small bundle, and may be shipped back to the original shipper or stored away for future use.

It will be noted in this device that the side members with their flanges have two functions, first, the holding of the parts together when the box is assembled and forming guide-ways for the flank cover sections when they rest on the tops of the end sections, the second function being to form trays, one of the side members being adapted to form a holding tray, and the other side member, a cover tray, in other words, when the box is knocked down, the ends, the bottom and the cover sections are all laid so as to be contained in one of the side members which acts as a holding tray, the other side member fitting down so that the two side members fit so that their flanges abut, and a suitable binding means, such as a cord or strap, can be passed around the assembled structure to hold it together. This prevents the loss of parts when the box is knocked down and provides a safe and compact means for shipping the box to its destination after it is knocked down.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts as well as in the details of the construction of the same, hence, I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements or combinations of the various devices and parts as set forth in the above specification nor do I confine myself to the exact arrangements or combinations of said devices or parts as shown in the accompanying drawings.

1 claim 2- 1. A box consisting of sides and ends, inwardly extending annular flanges on opposite sides of the box, the flanges being spaced from the top and bottom edges of the sides and ends, a bottom secured in the flanges and against the bottom edges of the sides and ends, flank cover sections adapted to be fitted between the flanges and the tops of the sides and ends and held thereby against movement except toward each other, a keysection fitting between the flank cover sections to hold them in place, and means for locking the key-section in place.

2. A box consisting of sides and ends, in wardly extending annular flanges on opposite sides of the box, the flanges being spaced from the top and bottom edges of the sides and ends, a bottom secured in the flanges and against the bottom edges of the sides and ends, flank cover sections adapted to be fitted between the flanges and the tops of the sides and ends and held thereby against movement except toward each other, a keysection fitting between the flank cover sections to hold them in place, means for 100k,

ing the key-section to the flanking sections to prevent movement of the key-sections perpendicularly to the top, and means for locking the key-section to the ends of the box to prevent longitudinal movement of the key-section.

3. A box consisting of side members having annular flanges extending inwardly, a bottom, ends terminating short of the flanges at the top of the side members,

means for detachably securing the bottom and the ends to the flanges, a cover made of sections, the flank sections of the cover fit ting under the flanges and on the top edge of the ends, and means for fastening the cover sections in place, the side members being adapted to form trays, the trays being adapted to abut and inclose the bottom, the ends and the cover sections when they are detached from the flanges and assembled.

4. A box consisting of side members, having annular flanges extending inwardly, a bottom, ends terminating short of the flanges at the top of the side members, means for detachably securing the bottom and the ends to the flanges, a cover consisting of flank sections fitting under the flanges at the top of the side members, akey section to fit between the flank sections and hold them under the flanges, and means for locking the key section in its place, the side members being adapted to form trays, the trays being adapted to abut and inclose the bottom, the ends and the cover sections when they are detached from the flanges and assembled.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of October, 1910.

BARNIM L. BEHRENDT.

Witnesses:

GEORGE D. RICHARDS, FREDK. H. W. FRAENTZEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

